It well may be that in a difficult hour,
Pinned down by pain and moaning for release,
Or nagged by want past resolution's power,
I might be driven to sell your love for peace,
Or trade the memory of this night for food.
It well may be. I do not think I would.
~Edna St. Vincent Milay
This exerpt from "Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink," is the introduction to Gayle Forman's new release Where She Went. With an introduction like that, what promise for what lies ahead! I cannot wait to turn the page.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A Day in Richmond
We spent a fabulous day soaking in new knowledge from Debbie Diller at her spring institute in Richmond, Virginia. The day was focused on Adding Rigor to Middle Grade Workstations, and was held at the beautiful Jefferson Hotel.
We learned and relearned so many valuable things from building classrooms to the five R's: routines, relationships, relevance, rigor, & reflection. She emphasized that building a classroom with high expectations first is key to establishing opportunities for small group instruction. We can do this by being clear about our schedule and objectives, nurturing independence, and "inspect what you expect" (following up on what your want to happen).
Today I re-learned that my "business is to meet the needs of my kids" and to keep standardized testing in perspective by "knowing my enemy." I also need to re-examine...who is doing all the work? I also re-learned that reflection is a step I cannot leave out. With the pressure of getting all the standards in before state testing, this seems to be the area that I struggle with most. I need to make time to ask: How did it go? What did I learn? Next time I will...
Lunch at Comfort: Cheryl ordered pimento chesse sandwich with fried green tomato and homemade chips & Mandy ordered roasted turkey sandwhich with apple mustard and mac and cheese. The restaurant was located close to VCU and completely adorable.
Supper at The Cheesecake Factory! Enough said...total calories for the day? They don't count on road trips, do they?
We learned and relearned so many valuable things from building classrooms to the five R's: routines, relationships, relevance, rigor, & reflection. She emphasized that building a classroom with high expectations first is key to establishing opportunities for small group instruction. We can do this by being clear about our schedule and objectives, nurturing independence, and "inspect what you expect" (following up on what your want to happen).
Today I re-learned that my "business is to meet the needs of my kids" and to keep standardized testing in perspective by "knowing my enemy." I also need to re-examine...who is doing all the work? I also re-learned that reflection is a step I cannot leave out. With the pressure of getting all the standards in before state testing, this seems to be the area that I struggle with most. I need to make time to ask: How did it go? What did I learn? Next time I will...
Lunch at Comfort: Cheryl ordered pimento chesse sandwich with fried green tomato and homemade chips & Mandy ordered roasted turkey sandwhich with apple mustard and mac and cheese. The restaurant was located close to VCU and completely adorable.
Supper at The Cheesecake Factory! Enough said...total calories for the day? They don't count on road trips, do they?
Our favorite quotes of the day:
"Think. That's my curriculum for teaching reading."
"Do I need a level on every book? Save your time & read a professional book."
"Assume nothing. Model everything."
"You're always modeling, even if you don't know you are. You're always modeling."
Friday, April 1, 2011
This Is Just to Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
~William Carlos Williams
This week I received a gift from my dear friend Mandy & was introduced to a collection of poems from Joyce Sidman's This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. This anthology was written mostly by students inspired by Williams' poem. I was deeply moved by the honesty and genuiness of the apologies and responses. I was immediately hooked on the first poem by Thomas and his apology to Mrs. Garcia in the office for stealing the jelly doughnuts. I'm inspired!
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
~William Carlos Williams
This week I received a gift from my dear friend Mandy & was introduced to a collection of poems from Joyce Sidman's This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. This anthology was written mostly by students inspired by Williams' poem. I was deeply moved by the honesty and genuiness of the apologies and responses. I was immediately hooked on the first poem by Thomas and his apology to Mrs. Garcia in the office for stealing the jelly doughnuts. I'm inspired!
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